Classic Antarctica cruise & South Shetland Islands

Planet

This fantastic itinerary offers a Classic Antarctic Peninsula voyage that will allow you to discover all that this remarkable area has to offer. Antarctica is one of the most wildly remote and seldom visited areas in the world and as such these pristine lands are protected by a strict code of conduct that has been developed to protect the continent’s unique environment and wildlife. Outlined in the Antarctic Treaty as being a continent dedicated to peace, science and tourism, the rule here is to leave nothing but footprints, and take nothing but memories and pictures. As active members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) the operators of this tour will be stringently adhering to these rules and guidelines to ensure your expedition causes as little negative effect on this stunning part of the world as possible, and to ensure that Antarctica remains pristine for generations to come.

Before departure you will receive an information pack which contains practical advice on how to minimise your impact on the Antarctica environment and throughout your voyage your experienced expedition team will be on hand to ensure that every element of your trip is carried out in a conscientious manner and strictly in line with the guidelines set out. This includes information on appropriate waste disposal, behaviour on land, and in particular around the continent’s fascinating wildlife population, ensuring that flora and vegetation is not damaged by any walking activities, and respecting the scientific operations that you may come across on your trip. Your tour operator takes their responsibility to the protection of Antarctica very seriously and you will be expected to also.

As part of your tour operator’s commitment to the environment they are 100% compliant with all regulations laid out by the IAATO and use a highly regulated, licensed vessel which is well equipped to operate with minimal impact to this pristine environment. The vessel’s size and small passenger count not only means that it can navigate through this remote area causing substantially less pollution than larger ships, but a smaller passenger count also inevitably means less waste and disruption to the area. All waste is carried back to the home port and disposed of in a responsible manner, something which many larger ships do not allow for.

As a company we firmly believe that environmental responsibility starts at home. We encourage recycling of waste as a company and as individuals. Where possible for business use we use public transport. We are also heavily involved with a project to recycle used or damaged binoculars, which are then sent to conservation projects across the world. As team of passionate wildlife enthusiasts, conservation efforts are at the forefront of everything we do. We find that our clients generally come back from our wildlife expeditions with a higher degree of environmental awareness which naturally results in a better understanding and usually a more effective call to action with their own general environmental habits at home and away, often becoming advocates and becoming much more supportive of wildlife and environmental issues. As a company we support many wildlife organisations worldwide including Save the Albatross, Wader Quest and the South Georgia Habitat Restoration Project and in an effort to further enhance the positive effects of our tours on the wildlife of Antarctica we actively encourage our customers upon return to donate to charities such as these.

People

The areas of Antarctica that you will be visiting have no permanent residents and as such there will be little human interaction apart from that with your fellow passengers, guides and crew. However, there are researchers who seasonally reside here at research bases and during your tour there may be opportunities to visit these bases and experience what they experience living amongst these often harsh environments. Not only will your visit offer the researchers a friendly new face to chat to but it will also provide a deeper insight into the exceptionally important work being carried out here to improve the conservation efforts in place. As part of the Antarctic Treaty guidance any visits to scientific research stations will be agreed fully in advance and guidelines will be given to ensure that any visits do not encroach on the work being carried out. Your expedition team will ensure that visitors are fully aware of the rules in place, including not interfering with or removing scientific equipment or marker posts and not disturbing experimental study sites, supplies or field camps.

Your Antarctic voyage will start and end in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city and you may wish to spend some time here in this fascinating city before or after your expedition. If so, our team of destination experts can offer first-hand advice on where to stay to ensure that local, responsible accommodation providers are being utilised, local bars and restaurants, the best places to purchase souvenirs (to ensure the proceeds are going directly to the vendors), and locally-managed tour providers should you wish to venture further afield. We can also offer advice on local cultural etiquette and first-hand advice on creating meaningful and respectful relationships between tourists and residents.

As a company we are proud of our principle based values which our community can always depend on. We support several home and overseas charities, organisations and campaigns including the aforementioned, and sponsorship of individual and underprivileged children in many countries. We are committed to ethically working with overseas partners who employ and support local communities and local guides who know and love their region like no other, delighted to share knowledge and are dedicated to looking after our valued passengers.